No one knows how powerful music can be.

Sometimes, music can help in healing a broken heart. It can motivate a weary soul or calm an anguished one. And sometimes, it awakens the memories that we think we’ve forgotten but are actually deeply ingrained in our minds, waiting only for music to touch them and make them come alive once more.

Marta C. Gonzalez was a celebrated ballerina back in the old days. She was an accomplished dancer who has graced huge stages in the world. In the 1960s, Marta was even a prima ballerina for the New York Ballet.

Marta developed Alzheimer’s disease and therefore needed to live in a care facility in Valencia, Spain. She slowly lost her memories and soon after, she was in the advanced stages of dementia.

As explained by the Alzheimer’s Association, dementia is a general term for loss of memory, language, problem-solving, and other thinking abilities that are severe enough to interfere with daily life. Alzheimer’s is the most common cause of dementia. It is often incorrectly referred to as “senility” or “senile dementia,” which reflects the formerly widespread but incorrect belief that serious mental decline is a normal part of aging.

Because of the disease, Marta’s capacity to remember her prima ballerina days are expected to be very little to none. No one thought she could still recognize these memories, until one day when a group of people decided to pay a visit to the celebrated ballerina.

Back in 2019, a Spanish charity called Música para Despertar visited her and what they saw that day truly made them believe in the power of music. They were surprised to find that Marta, despite her condition, still recalls the memories of her glory days in ballet. Watching her dance again was one of the most amazing things they witnessed and it is a moment that has moved them so much.

Marta was given headphones and thru them, the charity staff made her listen to a part of Tchaikovsky’s “Swan Lake”. After hearing the first few notes in the song, everyone saw the change in the elderly woman’s actions and facial expression.

As she listened to the song, Marta appeared to be thinking very deeply as if trying to touch a certain part of her memory that everyone thought was already out of her reach.

Little by little, the elderly woman lifted her hand, showing the first few indications that this music used to be a piece she danced to.

She hesitated for a moment, but the charity group member kissed her hand as a sign of support. That’s when the ballerina in her swiftly resurfaced.

Marta lifted her arms and delicately moved to the captivating music. Her moves were shaky, but the passion and clear talent behind her movements are breathtaking.

It’s obvious that ballet has been ingrained in her system and she is dancing purely from memories that everyone believed she has lost forever.

As the music comes to an end, Marta slowly caps off her dance and completes it in a quiet manner. She was certainly glad to have listened to the song and the opportunity to relive her glory days as a ballerina.

It was a truly magical moment that proved how one’s passion is planted deep in their very core and with the power of music, this passion can easily re-ignite and come to life again. Marta may have passed away, but her incredible impact on the world of ballet will always be remembered.

Watch the amazing moment as Marta relives her memories of ballet in the touching video below.

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Source: Alzheimer’s Association, YouTube, Inspire More